Several readers have asked about what constitutes a Virus.
First of all, the term “Virus” is a generic term. It is commonly used to link together several types of malicious computers programs like worms and Trojan horses.
A Trojan Horse is a type of virus that acts like an imposter on your computer.
They generally have file names that sound like something you would want like a computer game or a desktop picture of some sort.
In reality, Trojan Horse viruses are actually programs designed to do something harmful to your computer.
Worms on the other hand are programs designed to breed or replicate themselves from computer to computer. It should be noted that some Trojan Horse viruses are also worms.
Worms usually replicate themselves through users sending email messages.
When a user accidentally initiates the program and activates the worm file on their computer, the worm program then allows the worm to send itself by email, to an entirely new batch of computers.
Trojan Horses and Worms are not normally attached to legitimate messages like true viruses are.
Instead they are usually attached to some unintelligible gibberish with an enticing subject that could be sent by someone you know.
True Viruses are programs that reside inside other programs that you use on your computer.
These devious programs often masquerade as a useful program, which is why you should never install a computer program from someone you don’t know or trust.
Viruses are often included inside “free” software programs that once installed are later discovered to harbor the virus.
Once your computer is infected, viruses are usually tough to remove.
Malicious scripts are also included in the virus category.
Today entire Web pages complete with pictures, videos, colors, etc. can be contained in email messages.
Although usually not a problem, the web content script that makes the email message more interesting and readable can also be the cause of harm to your computer.
Unscrupulous people can add malicious scripts such as JavaScript, Active X or VBScript to your messages that are designed to annoy you and possibly harm your computer.
Malicious scripts are designed to take advantage of the security holes in your email program or web browser.
For this reason alone, it’s a good idea to frequently update your web browser when newer versions are available.
Although you can’t stop your website from being hacked, you can limit your vulnerabilities by understanding what constitutes a virus.
I hope this clears up exactly what constitutes a virus for those readers who have not already experienced one.
Over time most successful article marketers have learned that 
prewriting Ezines makes article writing easier and much more productive.
Prewriting is something that is done before you begin to write, proofread, or edit your Ezine articles.
When done properly, all the author needs to do before submitting their Ezine for publication is to polish up their prewritten draft and make a few transitions where needed.
Prewriting allows an author more freedom to concentrate on getting their creative juices flowing and to write truly original articles.
Unfortunately, many Expert Authors in an effort to try to save time writing and churn out more content, skip any semblance of creativity.
The most successful Ezine articles reflect the combination of the author’s expertise and creativity.
Without both, the article is usually found wanting.
Before you chrun out your next Ezine article, consider prewriting your articles using the following guidelines.
- Identify the audience you are writing to and keep some of the following questions in mind.
- Who are you writing to and why?
- Who is in your audience?
- What are the demographics of your audience?
- (Common marketing demographics include age, gender, income level, race and ethnicity.)
- What does your target audience do?
- What does your audience expect from you? What do they need or want?
- Do they know anything about your niche market and if so, do they have any preconceptions?
- What do you have in common with your audience?
By identifying your audience before you start writing, you are more likely to create something for their benefit that will actually meet their needs.
This ultimately results in more traffic being funneled to your website or blog.
Focus on a specific topic to write about.
- Prewriting Ezines makes article writing easier when you identify a specific topic.
Writing about broad topics often leads to a loss of focus, which also leads to a hodgepodge of extraneous ideas being injected into an article.
If you must write about a broad topic, break it down into a series of smaller articles which you can write about at a later date.
If you can’t describe your topic in one or two words, your topic is probably too broad to write about.
For example, a topic like “fishing” is much too broad.
A much more focused topic would be “Saltwater fishing for sheepshead along the jetties in Port Canaveral”.
- After you have identified a specific topic to write about to your audience, you need to research and gather additional information on your subject matter.
Play news reporter and ask who, what, where, when, why and how.
Jot down any new relevant ideas pertaining to these questions and use them as a guide in your writing.
Don’t include information that is not relevant to your subject matter.
- Make a general outline from the information you researched and create a template from it that can be easily converted into your finished Ezine article.
The outline should be simple and have specific details about everything you want your audience to be informed about.
With a little polish, a good outline should easily be able to be converted into a finished article without having to “stuff” it full of extraneous B.S.
A simple checklist along the lines of an outline, will ensure that everything you want to include in your article gets included.
Prewriting Ezines makes article writing easier to accomplish, more productive and easier for your audience to digest. Try it.
When you take the following steps to improve your Twitter image, you will find that your number of followers will increase and that your brand identity will also improve.
First of all, it is important that Twitter users make their Twitter page as eye appealing as possible.
We all know that you should not “judge a book by it’s cover” but in the world of Twitter, this is not the case. The way you come across to other users defines you.
Therefore, the quickest way to start improving your Twitter image and develop your professional brand is to make your Twitter page interesting and eye appealing.
When people see you on Twitter, the first thing they notice is your “handle” or name.
Your Twitter name also represents your professional image and your brand, so why not reference it?
Instead of using @amandapeet, why not change your name to @amandapeetactress? Or, @blairwiggingfishingguide instead of @blairwigging.
The point is that you can quickly reach more followers when you include your brand in your Twitter name. When people associate your brand with your name, they can search for your brand i.e. “actress” or “fighingguide” and your name will appear.
- You Can Improve Your Twitter Image By Providing A Good Photo
People become more willing to associate with strangers when they see an attractive friendly image of the individual they will be communicating with.
Your profile picture is more than just an avatar, it defines who you are.
Except in rare cases, don’t use a business photo or business logo for your Twitter profile photo.
Instead, provide your followers with a more intimate view of who your are and they will be more willing to share with you.
- Your Profile Can Help Improve Your Twitter Image.
Your Twitter profile is the place where you can make your mark on the Twitter community. This is where you can brand yourself and your business to let the world know exactly who you are and what you do.
Your Twitter profile page is where you let potential followers know about your business website or your blog. If a Twitter user is interested in learning more about you, your profile is where they can click on your website URL to gain additional information.
A custom Twitter page and a catchy well written profile will in a millisecond help people decide whether or not to follow you on Twitter.
- Add Yourself To The Wefollow Twitter Directory
After you have chosen your branded Twitter name and completed your profile page, you can farther improve your Twitter image by adding your name to the WeFollow Twitter directory.
When you do this, you will be able to track your ranking and determine how influential you are in your niche on Twitter.
- Be Careful About What You Tweet
The way you Tweet can either improve your Twitter image or destroy it. Remember, you are what you Tweet!
You can create a community around your business brand by engaging your followers, not constantly trying to sell them.
If you focus on sharing videos, photos and passing along other valuable bits of information in your Tweets, you will attract many more followers than if you focus on trying to sell something with every tweet you make.
You will find that most of your followers will gradually drop off and eventually delete you from their list when you focus on selling.
Twitter is a social media micro-blogging site, not a sales forum.
When you receive valuable information from your Twitter circle of friends, re-tweet the information to your followers.
Re-tweeting is the way to get the attention of Twitter users outside your niche and begin a conversation with them.
When you re-tweet, make sure you use Twitter’s automatic RT (re-tweet) button and credit the original Tweeter.
As an example: “It pays to fish the fronts” RT @redfishman99
Remember that Twitter is a micro-blogging site, not a blog or forum. Make your tweets “short, sweet and to the point”. Remember to shorten your URLs!
- Use #Hashtags To Target Your Niche
Hashtags add additional context and metadata to your tweets. They function like tags on Flickr, only they are added inline to your Tweets.
You easily create a hashtag by prefixing a keyword with a hash symbol: #hashtag.
For real time tracking, you can use the #hashtag symbol in front of the keyword you pick, to best describe what your niche is all about.
When you use hashtags in front of the keyword after your tweet; your tweets will be more easily seen by anyone searching for that particular hashtag.
i.e. “It pays to fish the fronts” #redfishing
The problem with using hashtags is that if you use too many of them, you could be labeled as a spammer by your followers.
Tagalus is a simple hashtag dictionary where you can define a hashtag or find information on any of the thousands of hashtags that are defined by other users.
You can also learn more about hashtags at Mashable
- Repeat Important Tweets To Improve Your Twitter Image
The more you use Twitter, the more you will improve your Twitter image.
One way to showcase important Twitter posts is to repeat them several times in a 24 hour period.
Repeating an important Tweet ensures that all your followers get an opportunity to see your post.
When you repeat a post you made in the evening again in the late evening, early the next morning and later again the next afternoon; you ensure that you catch every audience that is following your tweets.
This tactic works only when it is used judiciously. Tweeting too frequently will only turn off your audience.
The more you use Twitter, the more people will likely follow your tweets. However, you need to reciprocate with your followers and follow them.
If you want to follow everyone who follows you, you can easily do it automatically or personalize a message to the people you choose to follow. Your followers help you grow to your current status, so don’t forget to follow those who helped you get to where you are.
Often when you reach out to the more prominent Twitter names in your niche and they re-tweet you, your influence in the Twitterspheare increases dramatically.
Following all or even some of these suggestions will help improve your Twitter image, so Tweet on!
First of all, the term “Virus” is a generic term. It is commonly used to link together several types of malicious computers programs like worms and Trojan horses.
